Bullies of Yesterday and Today

My whole life seems to be filled with bullies. As a grade school child I had glasses, a speech problem, was shy, and stick thin. You choose any of those descriptions and I was teased for it. However, as a young girl I did not put up with it. I remember being teased one day after school for being skinny, as I was riding my bike. I told the boys to stop, but they were not listening, so I got off my ten speed bike, lifted it over my head and chucked it at them. I then picked up two handfuls of pebbles and chased them all the way back to their home. Yes, I did get in a little bit of trouble for that, but those boys never teased me again.

The one on the left with stripped shorts is me at about 7 I think! I was that thin until around 7th or 8th grade.

I don't know what happened, but somewhere along the way I started taking what the bullies told me to heart. Today my life is still full of bullies. These bullies are worse however, they are the voices of loved ones who say they are trying to help but all the while telling me I am not good enough. They are also voices that have been ingrained into my head.

So I wrote this letter to the bullies of today to tell them I am going back to how I was in grade school, where I did not tolerate being bullied.


           Dear Bullies,

     I am tired of letting you hold me back. I am tired of you controlling my future. You say you love me and want me to be happy, but every time I start to think I can change, you knock me back down by telling me it's too hard or I won't succeed.
      I am done. I am strong! This last year has proven that to me and should have proven that to you as well. Was it easy? No, but I did it, I survived it and am better for it. I can't cut you completely out of my life, but you are done controlling it.
      I have put the power and control in your hands for long enough! I know these next few years will be trying and tough and will test me in ways I've never been tested. However, isn't that why we believe we were sent to this earth, to be tested and tried?
     Would life be easier if I just stayed the way I am? Yes, but than what kind of life would that be? Why settle for less than I am capable of? I know if I was to stay put, I would be miserable. Would it be easier if I just took out loans for schooling and another car? Yes, but that would increase our debt rather than decreasing it which is what we are aiming for. Would it be easier to not work full time while going to school? Yes, but some past decisions have taken that luxury away from us. Would it be easier to take less classes? Yes, but that would mean it would take longer to get the bachelors and than masters that I am going for and a greater possibility that I would not finish. So while your points are valid, I am not going to let your doubts in me stop me from reaching for my goals and knocking them out of the park.
      Are you holding me back, because as everyone is aware, you don't feel Scott and I can do better together and you feel if I try to live to my fullest potential that I won't stick around? Well, you have no need to worry! I won't leave Scott. In fact, we are working together to help each other reach our fullest potential as individuals. Because of this I know that as a couple we will have unlimited possibilities! We will grow and learn together and be better for it! I do not have unrealistic expectations. I know that it will be hard! We may fail but we will fail together! Even if we don't end up where we aim to go we will still end up in a better place then we currently are.
      You have always told me you think I am smart girl. Do you think I have not done my research on these decisions? Do you think I didn't weight the pros and cons? Do you think I didn't think about, pray about, talk with others, and pray more about these goals?
     I know you think I will fail and will not be able to climb this mountain I have placed in front of me. But I know what is at the top. I know there is an amazing view with unlimited possibilities up there for Scott and I. And I am going to do all I can with Scott to get us there. We may stumble and fall, but we have each other and others surrounding us, cheering us on that will help us up, brush us off, wipe our tears, and then send us on our way.
    In conclusion, I can do hard things. Scott can do hard things. Together we can do impossible things. This road will be difficult, no doubt about it. However, in the end it will be worth it. No matter how tough it gets, we will get through with the support from each other and those who truly support and the hope of a better future.

Snoqualmie Falls

One of the things Scott and I like to do is to travel around. We love to travel far and near. So a few months ago we decided to take a short little trip after I got off work on a Friday night.

I have lived in Seattle area my whole life and had never visited Snoqualmie Falls, so we decided it was high time we did that together. 

It was a beautiful day in the Spring so we headed up there around 3:15 pm when I got off, which most of you city folk know is the start of traffic. So we enjoyed listening to some tunes while chatting on the way up there. Once we got to where the GPS lead us it was pretty packed. We were finally able to find a spot to park and go enjoy the breath taking view. 

Although it was pretty busy, it was still a beautiful sight to take in and it was not so busy that we didn't enjoy the hour or so we spent just admiring the beauty of God's creations and the wisdom that God has given to man to be able to use for our good. 

The Beginning

My name is Laura, and I am married to a wonderful man named Scott. We have been married for almost 9 years, which have been the most trying but the most wonderful in my life. We live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and love every moment of it. Yes, including the overcast days.We do not currently have children, but hope one day to add to our family.
Until then, we are both working full-time. I do work in an office taking orders and helping to solve any problems the customer is having. While, Scott works as a security officer at various sites around the Seattle area. We both are starting our journey on the path to higher education. So, life keeps us plenty busy.

In the fall, my husband will enter into this program called Pathway. Pathway is a program that is offered through Brigham Young University - Idaho, that has introduction courses to college. This program allows us to go through and get our degree online, without having to fulfill their residency requirement. For more information, you can visit here. I  just finished my last semester of the Pathway program. In the fall, I will be starting my path to a Bachelor's in Marriage and Family Studies. 

As I have gone through this last year, I haven't learned a lot of new things academic wise, although it was a great refresher for me. However, I have learned a lot about myself and have already made some changes. But, I still see many more changes that need to be made, and I do not doubt there will be more I notice as I continue on this journey. 

As I move forward with my education and reaching for my goals and dreams. I am terrified, it is so easy to get comfortable in the ruts we fall into. I am also not entirely sure how we will accomplish all we are setting out to do. Although, I am scared I am more excited to enjoy this journey in accomplishing our goals.


 I recently  I read a quote from President Thomas S. Monson (The prophet and leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) that sums up what I want this journey I am on to be. He says, "Ahead is the open road. Those who walk it successfully ignore irrelevant attractions and refrain from activities which do not contribute to attainment of their purpose. They disregard the billboards designed to divert them into this or that blind alley of ease and pleasure. They stand on their own feet, set their own goals, and win their own victories." ("Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow", BYU Commencement, April 22, 1999)

So I invite you to join along with our journey. I will doing my best to document as much of this as possible for my own selfish reasons, of being able to look back on hard days and see how far we have come as individuals and a couple. I encourage you to not just read of our journey, but find your own open road and start your way down it.